Carrying case



July 11, 1967 E. B. STEIN CARRYING CASE Filed Oct. 13, 1965 I "V '7 U QU NN'TOR.

w -M/r ATTORNEY? United States Patent 3,330,388 CARRYING CASE Edward B.Stein, Glencoe, 111., assignor to Stehco Products Corporation, Chicago,111., a corporation of Iliinois Filed Oct. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 495,589 6Claims. (Ci. 190-48) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present inventionconcerns a luggage case having opposing molded end panels with opposinggrooves and with one or more dividers each cooperable with an opposingpair of grooves for holding the divider in an upright position. The endpanels are further provided with flanges to permit the end panels to bereadily stitched to side walls of the case to secure the end panels inassembly therewith.

The present invention relates generally to a catalog or luggage casethat can be used to carry different types of goods. The luggage caseherein disclosed g nerally is of the type described in US. Patent No.3,169,615.

The present invention concerns itself with a new type of luggage casehaving molded end panels particularly constructed for ready assemblywith bottom and side walls of the luggage case. In the past, it hasgenerally been the practice to employ leather or plastic relativelyflexible end closure panels. Cases of the present type previously werecompartmentalized with dividers that were switched or interiorly securedwithin the case.

According to important features of this invention, the molded end panelsare formed with ribs which define opposing grooves and removablerelatively stilf dividers are provided for engagement in the grooves ina number of different positions. These dividers can be removed at anytime from the grooves and engaged with other grooves to vary the sizesof the compartments within the case as desired in accordance withcertain features of this invention.

According to other features of this invention, the end panels areprovided with a continuou peripheral flange which extends beyond theplane of the rib bottoms so that the flange can be stitched to the sideand bottom walls of the luggage case free of interference with the ribsand so that the cases can be economically manufactured at higherproduction rates.

In accordance with other features of this invention, the ribs on the endpanels are intentionally restricted in vertical dimensions so as to bespaced above the bottom flange portion of the peripheral rim flangeproviding a stitching clearance area thereunder to facilitate attachmentof the end panels to the side and bottom walls of the luggage case.

In accordance with still other features of this invention, the dividersare provided with inclined edges between the side edges and the bottomedge for extending free of the end panels at lower ends thereof wherebythe divider can snugly engage the end panels as well as the case bottom.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a newand improved luggage case that can be economically manufactured andwhich has removable dividers that can be positioned in a number ofdifferent selectable positions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedluggage case wherein the end panels can be formed in a molding processand conveniently stitched to side and bottom walls to form a luggagecase.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully becomeapparent in view of the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings illustraitng a singleembodiment and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my luggage case;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on theline IIII looking in the direction indicated by the arrow as seen inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective View of a molded end panel; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view takensubstantially on the line IV-IV looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows as seen in FIG- URE 1.

As shown on the drawings: The reference numeral 10 indicates generallymy luggage case. This case can be manufactured from a folded strip 11comprised of any suitable material or materials. As illustrated, thestrip 11 has inner and outer layers of plastic 11a and 11b and an innerlayer constituting of relatively stiff fiberboard.

When the strip 11 is formed to shape, confronting side walls 12 and 13are joined togehter at lower ends by a bottom wall 14. Top flaps 15 and16 are secured by means of hinges 17 and 18 to upper ends of the sidewalls 12 and 13. The top flap 16 has a handle 19 that is mounted thereonby means of handle pivots 20 and 21. The handle is adapted to projectthrough a flap slot 22 provided in the top flap 15. Suitable locks 23are provided on the top flaps for locking the case. The case thus fardescribed is of the type dlisclosed in US. Patent No. 3,169,615.

In accordance with important features of this invention, molded endpanels of rectangular shape 25 are provided. Since each end panel is ofessentially identical construction a description of one Will sutfice foreach of them.

The end panel 25 includes a main panel portion 25a that is peripherallyencompassed by a continuous angled marginal rim flange 27 having top,bottom and side rim flange portions 28, 29, 30 and 31. Cooperable witheach end panel 25 is a marginal T-shaped reinforcing strip 32. As isillustrated in FIGURE 2, the end panels are positioned between the sidepanels or side walls 12 and 13 and on the bottom wall 14. The T-shapedreinforcing strip is mounted between the peripheral rim flange 27 andthe side and bottom walls 12, 13 and 14. These surfaces are stitchedtogether by stitching 33 and are further secured by means of rivets 34and 35.

Each end panel 25 has a series of upright vertically extending moldedribs 36 that terminate at bottom ends in inclined rib bottoms 36a. Theribs 36 define inwardly opening confronting grooves 37. The peripheralflange 27 extends in one direction away from main panel portion 25a andthe grooves 37 open in an opposite direction away from the main panelportion 25a. It will further be noted that the ribs 36 terminate atlower ends so as to be spaced above bottom rim flange portion 29 toprovide an enlarged stitching clearance area 42 as will hereafter hediscussed in further detail.

A series of dividers 38 are provided for selective assembly withselective confronting grooves 37 on the end panels 25. These dividerscan be comprised of any suitable material such as wood and the like andare provided with vertical edges 39 for removable slidable engagementwithin the grooves 37. These vertical edges 39 terminate at lower endsin beveled edges 40 which in turn are connected to a bottom edge 41. Thebeveled edges 40 are particularly positioned so that the verticaldivider edges 39 can engage in the end panel grooves 37 and so that thebottom edge 41 can engage with the bottom wall 14 of the luggage case,all without interfering with the enlarged stitching clearance area 42;It is in this manner that the divider can be firmly supported interiorlyof the bag on the bottom 14, the inclined molded rib bottoms 36a, andbetween the walls defining the rib grooves 37.

The rim flange 27 is dimensioned with reference to the molded ribs 36 sothat enough area is provided to permit the rim flange to be stitched tothe side and bottom Walls of the luggage case in a vertical plane P-lspaced from a vertical plane P-2 extending through the rib bottoms 36.By manufacturing the luggage case with the previously describedfeatures, presently available equipment can be readily used forassembling the components of my luggage case.

It is significant to note that vertical grooves 37 extend verticallythrough the upper or top rim flange portion 28 in the peripheral rimflange 27 so that the divider 38 can be readily assembled therein asshown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The top rim flange portion 28 also servesanother important function since the flaps 15 and 16 can rest thereonand be supported thereby when they are disposed in a closed overlappedposition as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and'4.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon, all such modifications as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim:

1. A luggage case comprising side and bottom case walls,

end panels disposed between said side case walls and on said bottom casewall in assembly therewith and with said panels having upright ribsdefining opposing rib grooves,

closure flaps hingedly secured to upper ends of said side walls, adividers having opposite upright edges removably secured in said ribgrooves and a bottom divider edge carried on said bottom case wall, 7 tthe end panels each having'a continuous rim'flange about its perimeterincluding top, bottom and side rim flange portions extending away fromsaid dividers, stitch means securing said top, bottom and side flangeportions on each end panel in unitary assembly with said side and bottomcase walls and i 1 with said top flange portions providing supports forsaid closure flaps.

2. A luggage case comprising side and bottom case walls,

'end panels disposed between said side case walls and on said bottomcase wall in assembly therewith and with said panels having upright ribsdefining confronting rib grooves,

dividers having opposite upright edges removably secured in said ribgrooves and a bottom divider edge carried on said bottom case wall,

the end panels each having a continuous rim flange about its perimeterincluding top, bottom and side rim flange portions extending away fromsaid dividers, and stitch means securing said top, bottom 7 and sideflange portions on each end panel in unitary assembly with said side andbottom case walls,

the stitch means lying in a vertical plane spaced out- Wardly at eachend from a vertical plane through 4 said ribs.

3. A luggage case comprising side and bottom case walls,

end panels disposed between said side case walls and on said bottom casewall in assembly therewith and with said panels having upright ribsdefining confronting rib grooves,

dividers having opposite upright edges removably secured in said ribgrooves and a bottom divider edge carried on said bottom case wall,

the end panels each having an'angled rim flange about its perimeterincluding top, bottom and side rim flange portions extending away fromsaid dividers,

the lower ends of said ribs being spaced above said bottom rim flangeportion providing a stitching 'clear- 7 ance area, and

stitch means securing said top; bottom and side flange portions on eachend panel in unitary assembly with said side and bottom case Walls,

the stitch means lying in a vertical plane spaced outwardly at each endfrom a vertical plane through said ribs.

4. A luggage case comprising side and bottom case walls,

end panels disposed between said side case walls and on said bottom casewall in assembly therewith and with said panels having upright ribsdefining confronting rib grooves,

dividers having opposite upright edges removably secured in said ribgrooves and a bottom divider edge carried on said bottom case wall,

the end panels each having an angled rim flange about its perimeterincluding top, bottom and side rim flange portions extending away fromsaid dividers,

the lower ends of said ribs being spaced above said bottom rim flangeportion providing a stitching clearance area,

the dividers each having inclined edges at opposite ends joined withsaid upright edges and with said bottom divider edge whereby thedividers can extend free of the end panels of the lower ends of the ribgrooves to avoid interference and to insure coaction with the bottomcase wall and the end panels, and stitch means securing said top, bottomand side flange portions on each end panel in unitary assembly with saidside and bottom case Walls.

5. A luggage case comprising side and bottom case walls, 7

end panels disposed between said side case walls and on said bottom caseWall in assembly therewith and with said panels having upright ribsdefining con,- fronting rib grooves,

dividers having opposite upright edges removably se cured in said ribgrooves and a bottom divider edge carried on said bottom case wall, theend panels each having an angled rim flange about its perimeterincluding top, bottom and side rim flange portions extending away fromsaid dividers,

the lower ends of said ribs being spaced above said bottom rim flangeportion providing a stitching clearance area,

the dividers each having inclined edges at opposite ends joined withsaid upright edges and with said bottom divider edgewhereby the dividerscan extend free of the end panels of the lower ends'of the rib groovesto avoid interference and to insure coaction with the bottom case wallarid the end panels, arid stitch means on said bottom case wall inassembly therewith and with said panels having upright ribs definingconfronting rib grooves,

the end panels each having a continuous rim flange about its perimeterincluding top, bottom and side rim flange portions extending away fromsaid dividers,

the rib grooves extending vertically through the top rim flange portionon both of the end panels,

dividers having opposite upright edges removably secured in said ribgrooves and a bottom divider edge carried on said bottom case Wall, andstitch means securing said top, bottom and side flange portions on eachend panel in unitary assembly with said side and bottom case walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 11/1895 GreatBritain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner

1. A LUGGAGE CASE COMPRISING SIDE AND BOTTOM CASE WALLS, END PANELS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND ON SAID BOTTOM CASE WALL IN ASSEMBLY THEREWITH AND WITH SAID PANELS HAVING UPRIGHT RIBS DEFINING OPPOSING RIB GROOVES, CLOSURE FLAPS HINGEDLY SECURED TO UPPER ENDS OF SAID SIDE WALLS, DIVIDERS HAVING OPPOSITE UPRIGHT EDGES REMOVABLY SECURED IN SAID RIB GROOVES AND A BOTTOM DIVIDER EDGE CARRIED ON SAID BOTTOM CASE WALL, THE END PANELS EACH HAVING A CONTINUOUS RIM FLANGE ABOUT ITS PERIMETER INCLUDING TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE RIM FLANGE PORTIONS EXTENDING AWAY FROM SAID DIVIDERS, STITCH MEANS SECURING SAID TOP, BOTTOM AND 